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Colleen Golden wins another term as Ragamuffin Parade president

Colleen Golden wins another term as Ragamuffin Parade president

Ragamuffin Inc. President Colleen Golden, center, is pictured awarding bicycles to the winners of the best costumes contest in a parade a few yeas ago. Golden has been re-elected to another two-year term as head of the parade. Photo courtesy of Ragamuffin Inc.

By Paula Katinas

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Winning elections seems to run in the Golden family!

On the heels of her husband Marty Golden’s big win in his re-election bid for his state senate seat, Colleen Golden has won another term as president of Ragamuffin Inc., the organization that sponsors the annual Ragamuffin Parade for children in Bay Ridge.

The re-election of Colleen Golden was announced by Ragamuffin Inc. on Nov. 19. The board of directors voted unanimously to have Golden serve another two year term as the head of the parade.

Coincidentally, Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge-southern Brooklyn) was also re-elected to another two-year term in office. Golden represents the 22nd State Senate District.

Ragamuffin Inc. board members cited Colleen Golden’s commitment to the parade and her activities as a community leader as reasons for her re-election.

“Colleen does a wonderful job every year,” Ted General, public relations director for Ragamuffin Inc., said.

The parade, which is held every fall on Third Avenue, attracts thousands of children who march up the avenue in homemade costumes. Ragamuffin Inc. awards prizes to the kids wearing the most creative costumes in each age group.

The Ragamuffin Parade has been held every year since 1967. General said the Bay Ridge parade has been an inspiration to communities around the country who now hold similar marches for youngsters.

“Since the parade was first held in Bay Ridge, many towns, communities and cities across the nation now have adopted either a Ragamuffin or Halloween kids’ parade," General said.

Since the time it was established, the Ragamuffin Parade has been devoted exclusively to celebrating the children of Southwest Brooklyn, and to present a safe alternative to door to door trick or treating, General said. The original parade was founded by the Rev. James McKenna, who in 1967 was an associate pastor at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, and by community leaderClifford Scanlon, also a member of the Our Lady of Angels parish.

The 2012 parade was one of the most successful ever, according to organizers, who said the enthusiasm of the participants was matched by the enthusiasm of the spectators lining the avenue to cheer for the costumed children.

The Ragamuffin Inc. board also voted to re-elect Vice President Marie Lane, Secretary Arlene Keating and Treasurer Sonia Abi-Habib for another term.

Thousands of children let their imaginations take hold and marched up Third Avenue in Bay Ridge dressed in colorful, creative and sometimes wacky, homemade costumes as part of the 47th Annual Ragamuffin Parade on Saturday. … Full Article